Le vétéran

When I read the synopsis, I thought that this could be a hidden gem even though the rating wasn't too high. So I gave it a try. But, boy! Do I regret watching it. The comedic part wasn't doing it for me. I don't get any laugh from watching this movie, at all. Actually, I think that the heaviest part of this movie isn't action nor comedy, it's drama. The plot is very straightforward with minimum plot twist. So no heavy thinking needed when watching it. And although the acting was decent, I couldn't help but yawning the entire time I watched this movie. It's so dull and unsatisfying, there's no joy that I get after watching it. So if you have other movies lining up in your watch list, I suggest you skip this one. Not worth your time.

It feels like either the movie was horribly cut, or whoever wrote dialogues and script was plain wasted. Or both. The pauses between phrases are too long, the dialogues end abruptly, the scenes pacing is way off, there's little reason to what's happening, there's no connection between characters - they just utter phrases for (seemingly) the sake of it.

The main character made look not only lacking wrist strength and mobility due to surgery, but lacking any sort of mobility and agility like he's ninety-plus already. The secondary main younger character is plain insufferable. And it's nothing about the actors, it's how the movie is made - I've no recollection of seeing the actor who plays the younger character, but I've plenty of recollections of seeing Lucy Liu and Christoph Waltz, and as great as they are, their characters look just as abysmal here. So it's definitely not an acting issue.

It's just... wasteful. Decent premise, even if not anything new. Great cast. Good potential. All wasted. Sad.

... stuff! I had a typo the first time I wrote this ... it typed stiff ... which I guess would be a pun ... but even more unintended than the one in the summary headline. Just saying. But back to the movie - with Waltz ... we have to thank Tarantino for finding this amazing actor. Or rather bringing him to the spotlight.

He may not be ... Nobody - (yes I am referencing the Bob Odenkirk movie), but this is still silly and fun enough. The action is decent ... again not close to the other movie ... just don't compare those. And enjoy this movie for what it is ... a Waltz(er) ... of a movie!

In light British mob dramatic-thriller "Old Guy" the London firm of implausibly young-at-heart titular hit-man Christoph Waltz prepares him for retirement by having him oversee / train young new-age upcoming killer Cooper Hoffman (good) on a 'suicide mission' to Belfast - on which Waltz takes along old friend Lucy Liu (also good). Experienced director Simon West aims for an "In Bruges" feel but Greg Johnson's second screenplay (after the decent "The Last Son") gives it no chance of hitting such heights. Not funny enough to be a comedy, but too silly to be a tense thriller, it falls between the two genres rather than rising as a crossover. Passably entertaining - no more.

Let's face it, the hitman mobster genre was done to death long ago, rejuvenated only by a clever twist here and there. The old guy mentor twist is fine, if done right, but here it's not even close. Chris Waltz looks cringingly old, mainly in his movements, Lucy liu give another non performance, whilst the young sidekick at least has something about him that's fresh and comedic. All the other characters are truly forgettable, a mandatory baddy is'nt even written in.

Production, soundtrack, editing is left waiting for a decent cast and a workable script , none of which are delivered unfortunately.

Give this one a run out, but then retire it to the back shelf.